Why Ettelbruck exists as a base
Ettelbruck sits at the confluence of the Alzette, Sure and Wark rivers, at the transport crossroads between the capital and the Ardennes. It is not a tourist destination in itself but its station is where you change for Vianden buses, Clervaux trains and Diekirch. Rooms run $75-110, with a couple of solid mid-range hotels around the station and Grand-Rue.
Direct trains to Luxembourg Central take 30-35 minutes; buses to Vianden take 30 minutes from the station; Diekirch is 8 minutes by train.
Who should book here
Ettelbruck suits travellers spending several days in the north: Vianden Castle, the Mullerthal via Diekirch, the Sure valley, and the Battle of the Bulge sites via the excellent National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. It also suits car-free travellers who want a rail base outside the capital for cheaper rooms.
It does not suit short trips or first-time visitors. If you want the old-town charm of Luxembourg, book the capital; if you want atmospheric castles, book Vianden itself; Ettelbruck is the logistical middle.
Good to know
How do I get from Ettelbruck to Vianden?+
Bus 570 from Ettelbruck station runs to Vianden roughly every 30-60 minutes and takes about 30 minutes. Free like all Luxembourg transport.
Is there anything to do in Ettelbruck itself?+
Modest: the General Patton Memorial Museum, a small pedestrianised centre and market on Saturdays. Half a day is more than enough.